SEED TREATMENT WITH BIO-FERTILIZERS FOR IMPROVING MAIZE PRODUCTIVITY UNDER VARIOUS FERTILITY MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Nitrogen (N) is required by plants for producing good yield, but its losses are the main reason for low availability. Biofertilizers have become an ecofriendly and cost-effective strategy in improving soil fertility and crop yield. For improving the N fertilizers efficiency in soil and reducing its losses, combination of biofertilizer and chemical N fertilizers are getting attention. This study was planned to study the effects of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizers on maize productivity. Experiment consisted of two factors 1- Fertilizer comprised of mineral nitrogen (N) and Farm Yard Manure (FYM) as 100% mineral N, 25% FYM+75% mineral N, 50%FYM+50% mineral N, while factor 2 comprised of biofertilizers (Control, Azotobacter spp. Rhizobium spp. Pseudomonas spp. and Azospirillum spp.) were applied as seed treatment before sowing. Early tasseling, silking and physiological maturity was recorded in plots where N was 25% from FYM and 75% from urea. The integration of FYM with urea either in 50:50 or 25:75 ratios had greater Leaf Area (LA), Leaf area index (LAI) , Grain Yield (GY), Biological Yield (BY), and 1000 grain weigh. Maximum leaf area (5269), LAI (3.16), Days to physiological maturity (103), grain/ear (411), 1000 grain weight (251.9), Grain yield kg/ha (3295) and biological yield ( 11031) was observed in 50% FYM+50%N. Tasseling, silking and physiological maturity was delayed but plant height, grains ear-1 , GY and BY were improved in plots where seed was treated with Azotobacter spp., Azospirillium and Pseudomonas spp. Greater LA and LAI was found for seed treated with Azotobacter as compared to Azospirillum, Rhizobium and Pseudomonas spp. whereas least values were obtain in control. Application of either 50 % FYM + 50 urea or 25% FYM +75% urea and seed treatment with either Azotobactor spp., Azospirallum spp. or pseudomonas spp. had substantially increased yield attributing traits of maize